On March 16, CSSC Jiangnan Shipyard delivered “CMA CGM CARMEN”—the third vessel in the “Kun” series of large methanol dual-fuel container ships built for the CMA CGM Group.
This series of 15,000 TEU methanol-fueled dual-fuel container ships—designated the “KUN-15M”—belongs to the “KUN” series of large container ships independently developed and designed by Jiangnan Shipyard. With an overall length of 366 meters, it represents yet another novel, highly efficient, green, and energy-saving ultra-large container ship type independently developed by Jiangnan Shipyard. This achievement was realized by centering R&D around market demands and design around production—thereby actively fostering a tight coupling between the design-development process and actual manufacturing—while simultaneously aligning closely with the specific requirements of shipowners.
During the launching phase, the vessel maintained the high level of structural integrity established by the preceding ship in the series, thereby laying a solid foundation and facilitating the mooring trials scheduled for the subsequent quayside phase. The completeness of the vessel’s superstructure continued to follow the established standard for the series—reaching a “fully furnished” state where the elevators are operational and the interior is ready for immediate occupancy. Furthermore, the proficient application of simulated container stowage and digital container testing techniques continued to contribute to reduced testing times and enhanced testing accuracy, thereby ensuring the high-quality delivery of the vessel.
The vessel’s sea trial duration set a new record for the entire series. Jiangnan Shipyard thoroughly studied and analyzed the technical challenges and contingencies encountered by previous vessels in the series, implementing proactive planning, arrangements, and refinements to ensure the ship’s seamless transition from conventional fuel to methanol—achieved successfully on the very first attempt during trials. Furthermore, the number of comments raised by the shipowner decreased by 40% compared to the previous vessel, thereby further solidifying the rhythmic construction cycle for container ships.
It is reported that the subsequent vessels in this series will continue to be delivered on a steady schedule, with the delivery of the entire series expected to be completed within the third quarter of this year.